Undergraduate Course: The Philosophy of Simone Weil (PHIL10161)
Course Outline
| School | School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course will study the philosophy and philosophical works of Simone Weil from her Cartesian roots to her later Platonic moral philosophy, as well as her impact on post-war, English-language philosophers. |
| Course description |
This course will study Simone Weil's philosophy, including her philosophies of labour and justice; and her conceptions of morality and moral personality. Study will proceed through a close reading of central essays or extracts from collected notes and notebooks. Discussion will focus on her texts, less so those of interpreters, so students will learn to read her work. The course will highlight the movement from earlier views oriented around action to later views oriented around attention. This course is oriented around a single philosopher and her work, but attention will also fall on the connections between Weil's philosophy and enduring difficulties in the philosophies of Descartes and Plato; as well as the impact on recent philosophers such as Iris Murdoch and Peter Winch. Limited consideration will be given to Weil's writings on spirituality. The focus is philosophical.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
Students MUST have passed:
Mind, Matter and Language (PHIL08014) AND
Knowledge and Reality (PHIL08017)
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | Students studying on MA Cognitive Science (Humanities) are permitted to take this course without having met the pre-requisites of Mind, Matter and Language and Knowledge and Reality. However, it is advisable that students discuss the suitability of the course with their PT and the course organiser before enrolling. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students should have completed at least 3 Philosophy courses at grade B or above. We will only consider University/College level courses. Applicants should note that, as with other popular courses, meeting the minimum does NOT guarantee admission. These enrolments are managed strictly by the Visiting Student Office, in line with the quotas allocated by the department, and all enquiries to enrol in these courses must be made through the CAHSS Visiting Student Office. It is not appropriate for students to contact the department directly to request additional spaces. |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Grasp and analyze central themes in Weil's philosophy;
- Improve core skills in philosophy, including the ability to interpret and engage with philosophical texts, evaluate arguments, and develop critical ideas in response
- Relate Weil's philosophy to that of historical and contemporary philosophers, including who influenced whom
- Understand conceptions of voluntariness, attention and action distant from the philosophical mainstream
- Locate the points of interaction between Weil's philosophical elaborations and familiar philosophical theories
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Simone Weil,Philosophy,Ethics,Moral Philosophy |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr David Levy
Tel: (0131 6)50 9943
Email: |
Course secretary | Miss Ann-Marie Cowe
Tel: (0131 6)50 3961
Email: |
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